From Sunday: Jennifer Whalen to run for Albany County Clerk

In case you missed it in Sunday’s paper, Colonie Republican Jennifer Whalen is running for the county clerk’s seat being vacated by 25-year incumbent Democrat Tom Clingan.

Whalen — who’s twice run for Assembly in the old 109th and new 110th Assembly District, nearly toppling Democratic Assemblyman Bob Reilly the first time — plans to run on the premise that being clerk amounts more than being a “potted plant” and filing documents.

In particular, Whalen noted the clerk’s role on the Contract Administration Board, which approves county contracts worth tens-of-thousands of dollars.

From the story:

The post includes a seat on the county’s three-member Contract Administration Board, which approves contracts worth between $20,000 and $100,000.

The other two members of the panel are County Executive Dan McCoy and County Legislature Chairman Shawn Morse, both Democrats like Clingan.

“They’re three men in a room, basically,” Whalen said, borrowing a phrase long used to deride the closed nature of state government run by the governor, Assembly speaker and state Senate majority leader. “I think that it’s time to break that death grip that the Democrats are holding on that Contract Administration Board.”

Whalen said she will also battle unfunded mandates, like Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s controversial new gun control law, which has sparked resistance from some clerks like Rensselaer County’s Frank Merola.

Whalen, 46, a former assistant attorney general who now owns The Whalen Group Distinguished Properties real estate firm, said her background in real estate and law makes her a perfect fit for the clerk’s job.

She said she planned to run against Clingan even before he announced his retirement.

8 Responses

The real estate broker, and recent loser for the 110th Assembly seat, Jennifer Whalen will not run well in a mayor election year for the county clerk seat being vacated by Tom Clingan. She may have some appeal in the suburbs but city Democrats will turn her away in Albany, Cohoes and Watervliet by wide margins. Plus, Clingan leaves office with no controversies hanging over his head. Jennifer will find out that most voters in the cities support the Safe Act. They have seen too many shootings to be swayed by the cries of “you’re not gonna take my gun!” (which in fact, is not the basis of the law everyone in rural New York is up in arms about (no pun intended).

And after failing to come close to winning the Albany County Clerk’s race, Jennifer Whalen declared “I will next run for Albany County Coroner as this position is closely associated with the Albany County GOP”.

Jake: She’ll only go if Bruce is nice to her. I am no fan of Steck but to blow off a debate because Steck said mean things about her is a joke. Bruce Hidley is a good man and has EXPERIENCE as the Clerk in Watervliet. Wonder if Whalen will have another fundraiser at the Saratoga Polo Club? Nothing says working for the people like a good game of polo? Stick to selling overpriced real estate in Loudonville to your friends Jen..